Posted on 11/24/2011 2:39:23 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
So, it’s no secret that Herman Cain has experienced a jaw-dropping dip in the polls – and not because of the competition. We’re all familiar with the inexplicable statements and his take on controversial positions … several out of error, misinformation and/or misunderstanding of certain issues that a man running for president maybe ought to know. Political prognosticators are saying that his continuous flubs and gaffes are to blame for his falling from top spots in Republican polls more so than allegations that he sexually harassed and assaulted women in his past.
For a guy presumably wanting the title of Commander-in-Chief, the faux pas’ are serious and damaging enough for some to call into question his readiness for the job. Some of his excuses about being tired, for example, as the reason for delayed thoughts on President Obama’s handling of Libya during a recent interview, just won’t fly. After all, national security calls will very likely come in the middle of the night after very little sleep
But the flubs are just that – flubs. They should not be representative of Herman Cain’s intelligence – or lack of it. Whether caused by fatigue, failing to brush up on issues he’s not firm on or reluctant to give interviews, nothing Cain says should define his past and his brilliance as a highly educated scientist and business man.
Seriously. How many Americans have a bachelor degree in mathematics or a master’s degree in computer science? How many can use their knowledge of applied physics to study and analyze the motion of missiles or projectiles of all types and the conditions that influence motions of weapons on behalf of the United States Navy? That’s not knowledge you can pick up in trade school easily.
Dumb and Cain should not be in the same two sentences.
Admittedly, he is guilty of having a limited world view. And, perhaps, he should fraternize enough with people of all faiths to know that American Jews, Sikhs, Muslims, Catholics and Evangelical Christians all want the same thing: to work, raise their families and be good citizens.
Had he been more exposed to diverse friends, he may not have declared that he’d be uncomfortable having a Muslim in his hypothetical future Presidential cabinet.
Had he been exposed to more hard working immigrant Hispanic families that are just like his, he may not have been so quick to pander to the legions of Americans frustrated with the illegal immigration problem in the nation. He wouldn’t have joked about plans to build an electric shock fence on the Mexico-US border.
Had he traveled more and been more widely read in history and foreign policy, he might have told Christian Broadcast Network’s David Brody that he doesn’t knowing much about other nations including who the president of a fictional “Ubeki-beki-beki-beki-stan-stan” is or might have known that China already has nuclear weapon capabilities.
All of these flubs and gaffes don’t prove that Herman Cain is dumb as some are claiming. All it reveals is that he may not have a firm grasp on certain topics and doesn’t have the media team or isn’t listening to his team well enough to bone up on areas he is unfamiliar with.
It may be helpful to note that expert campaigner Mitt Romney doesn’t do too many media interviews and will rarely speak impromptu or reply to a random reporter’s question yelled at him on the trail. He’s disciplined.
Granted, that is what makes many people hate the man: being so rehearsed, established, polished, controlled (a.k.a. boring) and robotic. It has kept Romney from getting caught in any gotcha moments, especially given he has a record and reputation of flip flopping. You can’t flip flop if you’re not talking. You can’t contradict yourself any more once you limit your speaking roles to the confines of an organized debate whilst you’ve gone over your talking points and know them like you know the freckles on your face.
But what Romney lacks as a candidate whom many Republicans are willing to embrace is what makes Cain so appealing. He is charming and likeable. Cain’s humility and folksiness, a similar trait which has garnered Sarah Palin many fans, have helped elevate him to where he is now.
He is the anti-arrogant intellectual. He has the quintessential bootstrap story. Cain, who once cleaned toilets and flipped burgers at Burger King, is prototypical all-American: anyone can rise to the top with strong work ethic and dedication. You cannot grow up in a household where your dad worked three jobs as a janitor, driver and barber to feed the family and not appreciate the value of hard work.
Black pundits have pontificated that perhaps Cain is ashamed of being Black or of selling out to “the man” especially after he went on CNN and said Blacks are brainwashed against Republicans.
But, he knows his Blackness very well. The man never said he wasn’t Black.
Cain once told a policy review team, “Because I am a Black American, I’ve had to perform better than my White counterparts. This is a personal standard that I’ve set for myself: I’ve got to perform a little better in order to get the same opportunity. I can’t just be as good; I’ve got to be better. It should not be this way, but it is.”
A man who still mentors young Black youth isn’t one people can say hates his people. Several of his critics haven’t volunteered at all for anyone, nor done much for their own people. Yet, they cast plenty of stones.
A man who once sat on a Congressional Economic Growth and Tax Reform Commission and promised that his industry would give welfare recipients jobs, training and a chance to gain economic success isn’t one who doesn’t want other Blacks to succeed and do well.
There are different types of “smart”: intelligent smart, street smarts, book smarts, job-readiness smart, quick-on-feet-thinking smart. Cain is a few of these above, but – certainly – he is anything but dumb.
Those saying otherwise obviously aren’t smart enough to read up on the man and his accomplishments.
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Jeneba Jalloh Ghatt represents small, women, and minority owned business and technology companies at The Ghatt Law Group LLC, the nations’ first communications law firm owned by women and minorities. She's won landmark cases on behalf of her clients which include national civil rights and public interest organizations. In addition to actively authoring several blogs, being a radio show host and sitting on the boards of three non-profits, she is a tech junkie who has been developing online web content since the very early years of the Internet, 1991 to be precise! Follow her on Twitter at @Jenebaspeaks, on her blog, Jenebaspeaks, which covers the intersection of politics and technology or on her Politics of Raising Children blog at The Washington Times Communities section.
Some of us know why you think that way.
It's pathetic.
Not even close. So take it from someone with ~30 years corporate experience, including VP level, and in Fortune 10-level companies.
You haven’t a clue what you’re talking about. To accomplish what he has accomplished across multiple markets/industries is unbelievable. He has serious talent, and it has been recognized across a wide spectrum of the business world.
Tell me how “thousands” have done what he has done. I’ll sit back and take notes.
LOL!
Whoever the country elects as president will also only be a “manager” of what other people built. There are thousands of people who have done less than Cain who are currently part of the permanent political class. Some have even been president.
Whether he wins the nomination or not he’s done a helluva lot more than many of those who constantly criticize him. At least he’s willing to put himself out there. No wonder we can’t get anyone decent to run.
Cindie
What’s telling here is that so much energy has to be spent defending the man’s intellect.
Justified or no, perception is reality. The narrative has already been written.
I don’t know if you’re mis-stating facts just to get attention or if you really don’t know, but it’s not that difficult to google “herman cain”.
You would learn that he was not “in the Navy”, nor did he “work for NASA” (or ever even apply for a job there, to my knowledge). What he did do was obtain a Master of Science in computer science from Purdue University in 1971, while he also worked full-time as a ballistics analyst for the U.S. Department of the Navy. (The US military currently employees about 700,000 civilian employees)
Now that you know the facts, hopefully your future postings will be more constructive toward the task of selecting the next President.
Are you freakin’ kidding me? Is that your idea of what a Herman Cain is/has accomplished in the business world???
Take some friendly advice: Stop posting. Now. Stop embarrassing yourself any further.
Wow.............
Cain is a man of very average intelligence who thinks you don’t have to know much to be President. If you want average, Cain is your man.
Cain is very protective of a corrupt economic system. He is very protective of Wall street fraud being that he was and is one of them. Sadly I don’t think he can be fixed on his thinking in that regard. He wishes to turn a blind eye to all of that and pretend that it does not exist or that it does not matter. From the wall street banker to congress, to our regulatory structure, to the Fed, and others...They are all tied together. They are all part of the same fraud. As the old saying goes- Just follow the money. The people who fill most of the major regulatory positions can be tracked back to a big wall street bank. If Cain had a different view on all of this then I would really consider voting for him.
Were that true he wouldn’t be polling among the top three. With the exception of Newt who’s a walking encyclopedia and Romney who’s careful to NEVER speak off the cuff, all the other candidates have have had to defend their intelligence as well. Look how Bachmann’s intelligence has been maligned. She may not be ready for the WH but she’s not dumb.
Cindie
It’s not hard to spot Ron Paul’s zombies around here.
What in the heck are you talking about? Spent to much time with the Occupy folks have you? Oh, and I’d appreciate some links to prove your accusations.
Cindie
Herman Cain is uniquely qualified to serve as President. His tenacity reinvigorates the American spirit. His faith restores America's In God We Trust.
Plus he's much more than a rocket scientist: CEO, problem solver, great communicator, minister, author...
Cain is the 21st Century Ronald Reagan
I believe that was done for our last two term Republican president.
Cain is vastly superior.
Carter's degree was in engineering physics, not new-clear engineering.
LOL!
If you want below average intelligence, Perry is your guy.
You name me one candidate that hasn't been crucified on FR.
So your point is that it only matters if Cain is crucified?.
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